What We Can Learn From Conor McGregor

​Tonight is the biggest event in sports history, and it shouldn't even be happening. 

Floyd Mayweather vs. Conor McGregor is capturing the imaginations of millions. 

Here's why: 

First, you have Floyd Mayweather. Undefeated, unhittable, and unlikable. People pay to watch Mayweather fights because they want to see him get knocked out. 

It never happens. 

Then you have Conor McGregor. 

Conor's a mixed martial artist, which means he competes within a variety of fighting styles. Punches, kicks, elbows, knees, wrestling, holds and chokes.... it's all fair game. 

He's a savage, and an absolute rock star. But he's not a boxer. 

So how does Conor find himself competing against the undefeated champion of boxing for over 100 million dollars when he doesn't have a single pro boxing fight to his name? 

The better question- how come so many people believe Conor can actually win? 

Technically, he shouldn't even be here, but millions of people will be on the edge of their seats, waiting for him to knock out Floyd Mayweather. 
​

Jordan Peterson, psychology professor from the University of Toronto, says a there are three main attributes a person can posses that will captivate the imagination of others, create unwavering belief, and foster success.  

Vision, speech (gotta talk a good one), and the courage to delve into the unknown. 

We're going to breakdown how Conor embodies all three of these attributes, and how we can apply them to build the lean body and healthy lifestyle we want. 

Vision

Conor visualizes his success before it happens. 

When a reporter asked Conor how he predicts his accomplishments so accurately, he said....

"First I see it in my head, then you see it before your eyes." 

He has a vision for himself, and before that vision is even possible, he sees it, and he believes it. 

How To Apply This

We already visualize everyday. Unfortunately, we usually focus on our potential failures, or everything that could go wrong. 

Instead of getting caught in this negative loop, take control of your vision. Practice seeing yourself where you want to be, and doing the things that will take you there. 

Things like preparing your meals, and crushing epic workouts.

How will it feel when you drop that 25 lbs? When you see muscle definition in your arms? Or when you're light and athletic for the first time in years? 

You've got to see it for yourself before you can make it happen, so see it, feel it, and experience it while you work for it.  

Speech

Conor doesn't just visualize his success. He speaks it to the world.  

Everything he says has to do with when he'll win, how he'll win, and how high his star will rise. 

Early in his career, people assumed he was overly arrogant when he made bold predictions of his future success. 

"He doesn't really believe that." people thought. 

Several years later, we know he not only believes it, he makes them come true with stunning accuracy. 

Conor talks a good game. But he backs it up, and this is why millions of people believe he might win this fight. 

How To Apply This

You've heard the phrase, "Speak it into existence." While this sounds like some woo-woo, forces-of-the-Universe stuff, straight from the depths of The Secret, it's actually pretty concrete. 

What you say you'll do, and what you say will happen, will probably happen. 

It comes down to making a decision, and believing that you'll follow through. 

So often, we want to build this amazing body and healthy lifestyle, but we never make a firm decision to do it. We keep it at arms length, saying "it would be nice, maybe someday." 

Once you speak your vision, you've made the decision to actually do it. Your behaviors will begin to map towards your goal. 

Claim your goals, claim the actions you'll take to make them happen, and claim them often.  

The Courage to Delve into  the Unknown

People like to stay safe. We establish predictable patterns, and stick to what we know. 

But man, we love when other people shatter that pattern and dive head first into the unknown. 

These people quickly become leaders and sources if inspiration for the rest of us. 

The story of Conor McGregor is a perfect display of this courage. 

From cashing welfare checks in Ireland 4 short years ago, to predicting his way to the highest paying fight the world has ever seen, Conor's done it by constantly breaking the mold and taking on the unknown. 

Tonight, he makes his pro boxing debut against a fighter who, as far as we know, is unbeatable. 

The world is captivated by the possibility this fight represents. 

How To Apply This

If you're going to make any impactful changes to your body and your life, you're going to have to face your fears, and do things you've never done before. 

This means pushing your body beyond its current comfort zone, buying and preparing foods you don't normally eat, setting up a schedule that will help you create your new lifestyle, and removing all the barriers from your life that will keep you from doing so. 

This requires bravery, and the willingness to dive head first into unknown territory.  

Will Conor defy all odds and shock the world? 

Will he sneak that deadly left hand through Mayweathers guard and make history? 

The even better question is, what will you accomplish by applying what we've learned from Conor McGregor?  

If you're watching, enjoy the fight. I'll be on the edge of my seat-- with a dark beer in one hand, and a buffalo style wing in the other-- ready to witness history. 

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